Netanyahu uses General Assembly address to defend Israel’s military campaign

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful defense of Israel’s policies and military operations at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, amid growing international criticism over the war in Gaza and Israel’s broader confrontation with Iran.

Netanyahu’s appearance was accompanied by a dramatic diplomatic protest: dozens of delegations walked out of the General Assembly hall as he began speaking. The walkout underscored the deep divisions surrounding Israel’s conduct of the war and its relations with the international community.

A Defiant Defense of Israel

Netanyahu devoted a substantial part of his address to defending Israel’s military actions and rejecting allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

He described the genocide accusation as, in his words, the “biggest lie of the century”, while arguing that Israel’s military campaign is a response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and an effort to prevent further attacks against Israel.

The Israeli prime minister also sought to portray Israel's military actions as part of a wider struggle against Iran and its regional allies.

Iran at the Center of the Speech

A major theme of Netanyahu's address was Israel's confrontation with Iran.

He defended Israel's decision to attack Iranian targets, describing the decision to strike Iran as “one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make.” Netanyahu argued that Israel's military operations had prevented Iran from restoring capabilities that could threaten Israel and other countries.

Netanyahu also claimed that Israel's actions were serving the security interests of countries beyond Israel, saying that some foreign leaders privately supported Israel's campaign against Iran even while their representatives were absent from the hall.

His remarks came against the backdrop of an ongoing U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran and continuing regional instability, including tensions involving Yemen and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Walkout Becomes a Central Image

The most striking visual from the speech was the departure of numerous diplomatic delegations.

As Netanyahu approached the podium, dozens of representatives left the chamber. Reuters reported that the walkout occurred at the beginning of his address, highlighting the extent of international opposition to Israel's policies.

The departure did not prevent Netanyahu from delivering his address, but it provided a powerful illustration of the diplomatic environment surrounding Israel at this year's General Assembly.

The walkout also followed demonstrations outside the United Nations. Reuters reported that police arrested at least 30 people during protests against Netanyahu, including actors and politicians.

Gaza Remains the Core International Dispute

The speech took place as Israel faces intense international criticism over its military campaign in Gaza.

Netanyahu rejected the accusations against Israel and emphasized Hamas's responsibility for the October 7 attack and the subsequent war.

The Israeli government has consistently rejected allegations of genocide, arguing that its military operations are directed against Hamas and other armed groups rather than against the Palestinian population.

At the same time, international organizations and governments have raised serious concerns over civilian casualties, humanitarian conditions and Israel's conduct of military operations in Gaza.

Netanyahu and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Clash

Netanyahu also used the international platform to criticize New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has been highly critical of Israel's conduct in Gaza.

Before the speech, Netanyahu had said he intended to confront what he described as misinformation about Israel and to defend the country's military campaign. Reuters reported that Mamdani's public criticism of Netanyahu had become another element of the political controversy surrounding the visit.

A Speech Delivered Under Growing Diplomatic Pressure

Netanyahu's appearance at the UN came at a particularly difficult moment in Israel's international relations.

His visit to New York was unusually brief, with Reuters reporting that he was expected to remain in the United States for less than eight hours. The limited visit contrasted with his longer U.S. trip the previous year and came amid tensions surrounding Israel's relationship with the Trump administration.

The speech also took place during an election campaign in Israel, adding a domestic political dimension to Netanyahu's international appearance. Reuters reported that Israel is scheduled to hold its next election on October 27, 2026.

An Increasingly Polarized International Debate

Netanyahu's speech highlighted the widening gap between Israel's presentation of the war and the increasingly critical international response.

For the Israeli government, the central argument remains that Israel is fighting terrorism and preventing Iran and its allies from developing capabilities that could threaten Israel and the wider region.

For many governments and international organizations, however, the focus has increasingly shifted toward the humanitarian consequences of the war, the conduct of Israeli military operations and the future of Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The scenes inside the General Assembly — with Netanyahu speaking as numerous diplomats walked out — captured that unresolved divide.

The Broader Regional Context

Netanyahu's address also reflected the transformation of the Middle Eastern conflict from a primarily Gaza-centered war into a broader regional confrontation involving Iran, Israel, the United States, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The UN General Assembly is taking place against the backdrop of continuing U.S.-Iran tensions and instability around critical regional waterways. The Strait of Hormuz remains a particular concern because of its importance to global energy supplies and international shipping.

Against this backdrop, Netanyahu used the UN stage not to signal a retreat from Israel's current strategic approach, but to defend it publicly and argue that Israel's military actions are central to confronting what he described as the broader Iranian threat.

The response inside the General Assembly demonstrated, however, that Israel's international diplomatic battle remains as contentious as the military conflicts themselves.